More hazard damage per building is expected in Bloomington than in 97% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bloomington gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns, #676 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (54%), then river and rain flooding (46%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2003.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Bloomington faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Earthquakes
River and rain flooding
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Bloomington’s grade
Earthquakes are 54% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bloomington, and Bloomington’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts. River and rain flooding adds 46%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #676 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bloomington’s residents live in 8 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical California town has higher expected damage than 92% of U.S. towns; within the state, Bloomington has more expected damage per building than 80% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $24.3M a year in losses across Bloomington: $20.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bloomington flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2003
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bloomington, from FEMA’s records: 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Bloomington isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: San Bernardino County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bloomington
Disasters that paid out in Bloomington itself (aid to households or repair grants to Bloomington), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides10 households applied for aid$600 aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides11 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2003Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflow and Debris Flow Directly Related T29 households applied for aid$9K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
San Bernardino County has had 34 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 24 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in San Bernardino County, 2002–2024.
Old photos of Bloomington after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bloomington archive →Bloomington and its neighbors
Bloomington is 3rd of the 4 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fontana | D−more damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Rialto | D−more damage than 97% | earthquakes | 6 |
| Bloomington | D−more damage than 97% | earthquakes | 1 |
| Jurupa Valley | D−among the highest damage | river and rain flooding | 1 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Bloomington faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Bloomington
Is Bloomington at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bloomington has higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #676 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (54%) and river and rain flooding (46%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bloomington flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Bloomington since 2003, $15K in all, or 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Bloomington in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In San Bernardino County, 15% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bloomington?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bloomington’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Bloomington?
By FEMA money that reached Bloomington, Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflow and Debris Flow Directly Related T (2003): 29 households applied for aid, $9K approved.
Is Bloomington at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (54%), and Bloomington’s rate for it is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bloomington.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bloomington’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.